Last week I opened my big mouth and said I would have something to post for
Sepia Saturday this week, especially if the theme was World War II, cooking, kidneys or strange outfits. Well, guess what? It seems I got my wish. So, here's the story of Rudy, the uncle-in-law I never met. I'm not sure if you can accurately call a person an uncle-in-law, but it seems less cumbersome than 'the brother of my father-in-law.'
Rudy was born in Binghamton, New York in about 1920. Here he is as a toddler.
Here's another picture of him (on the left) with my father-in-law, John.
Rudy was in the army during World War II, stationed in England. Here's a letter he wrote home in 1944.
Rudy worked as a cook in the army.
Does this picture say something about his cooking?
Later, Rudy ended up at the 127th Station Hospital. In the letter below, it sounds as if he is working at the hospital, but this is about the time he became sick and had to be hospitalized. For a long time, they couldn't figure out what was wrong with him. Finally, they discovered he was suffering from kidney failure. The story I have heard is that they went to remove one kidney, but found that he only had one. I don't know if that detail is right, but I do know that it's true that he only had one kidney. There were no kidney transplants at the time and dialysis was in the early development stages. Poor Rudy died at the age of 27.
Here's a letter Rudy sent to his brother John, who was also in the army. I'd love to know what the censors blocked out here.
Be sure to stop by
Sepia Saturday for great stories and photos, which may or may not have anything to do with cooks, kidneys, or World War II.
That is a beautiful portrait of the two brothers -- and very sad Rudy died at age 27. It is so great you have his (typewritten) letters too. I rest my case about letters.....they are a wonderful and important part of family and world history.
ReplyDeleteHow nice that you have the letters and the photos, sorry that Rudy didn't live longer.
ReplyDeleteLetters are a fascinating peek into family history, you are so fortunate to have them! I love the photo in the gas mask. It made me LOL. Excellent post and amazingly right on theme! :-)
ReplyDeleteHow lovely that the letters are typewritten - so much easier to decipher. He seemed a lovely man, what a pity he died so young.
ReplyDeleteHallo Christine,
ReplyDeletedas ist ja klasse, das wir uns beide weiterbilden.
Ich mache eine weiterbildung "Pädagogische Kunsttherapy".
Was hast du belegt?
Liebe Grüße
Janine
I like that second portrait - such a characteristic studio portrait from the 1920s/1930s. I like, too, the way you've filled the gaps between the photos with letters, making the subjects of the portraits come to life.
ReplyDeleteI love that photo of your father-in-law. He looks so mature somehow!
ReplyDeletePoor Rudy. His letters make it sound like he was really enjoying the Army.
ReplyDeleteWhat a poignant story - so interesting!
ReplyDeleteAnd just when I was really getting to like Rudy....
ReplyDeleteSo sad!
Barbara
Genetics can be a blessing or a curse- my grandmother, Rudy's mother, also had kidney disease. Fortunately, unlike Rudy, she had two, so they removed the diseased one and she lived another 25 years to the age of 87. My father John, of 'John is Thrilled' and 'Our Favorite Mailman' Postcard Paradise fame, was devastated by the death of his brother, and it took him decades to recover from the loss. To some degree, I think that is why he was so protective of his mother, who lived with our family from the year I was born until her death. Like Christine, I never met Rudy either as he died years before I was born, and unfortunately know little about his life as my father rarely discussed the subject.
ReplyDeleteCherrio, I so like that word! As a little boy what a cutie he was....it seems he lived a good life, rats tasting his food and all....great post and yes it's a good thing you posted this week after all! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteEven the comments have added to your story! ♥
ReplyDeleteThe letters make the photos more important. What a waste to die at 27.
ReplyDeleteThis was a great post - thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteVery sad indeed, he seems from his letters to have been a really good person. I love the frame on the first picture.
ReplyDeleteWow Christine,
ReplyDeleteWhat an endearing piece of American history! Such a touching post, thanks for sharing, made me a bit teary eyed though!!! Have a great week and am so glad you had a chance to stop by and say hi this week,
Christine
Fantastic post. Both humorous and touching. Nice to see this bit about a man's life, albeit a short one.
ReplyDeleteA tragedy that Rudy died so young. His letters are fascinating, though...and typed!
ReplyDeleteI am glad you spoke up last week giving us the pleasure of this wonderful post. With the photos and letters, the story truly comes alive!
ReplyDeleteA great post, how wonderful that you have these mementos, together they create a vivid picture that brings him to life. Tragic that he died so young.
ReplyDeleteAs a note on the comments of how nice it is to have all these pictures, letters, etc., I (and I believe none of my siblings either...) had never seen any of these items except the first picture. I found the rest (and many more pictures/letters related to Rudy and other relatives I never met) in a suitcase at the back of my grandmother's closet when I was cleaning out my parents house after they passed away. It was quite an amazing experience to sit down on the floor and open the lid to a trove of family history I had never known... Sadly, nobody was still living that could give me much insight into the lives of the people I had just met.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful treasure in pictures and story. Perfect for the the theme in every way.
ReplyDeleteHow sad for Rudy to have died so young, but at least his memory continues in the pictures and papers you have. It sounds as though he experienced more than many 27 year old men, especially these days.
ReplyDeleteI have most, if not all, of my father's letters from the same time but he was in North Africa and Italy. Like you, I'd love to know what was censored.
How sad that Rudy died, I liked 'hearing' his voice in his letters. Like you, I wonder what was crossed out! Wonderful photos.
ReplyDeleteWell, dang. Sorry that he died so young. I have a book of war letters that my mom's cousin transcribed and will share some of them on here soon. I loved reading Rudy's. Thanks for this wonderful post.
ReplyDeleteKathy M.
didn't Xrays revealed he had only one kidney, instead of finding out only on the operating table??? it is not the first I hear of a single kidney, but that it should fail is sad indeed. to be poisoned by your own body...
ReplyDeleteif they didn't have the technology to help him, I hope they had the drugs to make this more bearable 'till then end...
Poor Rudy!!
:(~
HUGZ
I love that someone else loved "cherrio". Great story!
ReplyDeleteSusi